Bosses at Irvine's GSK plant have announced jobs are set to be axed in a shock round of redundancies. 

The Times can reveal the announcement was made to workers on Tuesday, December 5 - just 20 days before Christmas. 

We understand that as many as 50 posts are set to go but the pharmaceutical giant would not confirm how many staff would be losing their jobs.

A GSK spokesperson said: "GSK Irvine is vital to our medicines manufacturing network around the world, and will continue to remain so.

"Following a review of our work at the site, we are proposing to make some changes to the site which will potentially impact a small number of employees.

"We have spoken with colleagues and will support those impacted by the news, consulting with them and their representatives appropriately over the coming months.”

More details and reaction in next week's Irvine Times.